DURHAM, N.C. – Duke redshirt senior offensive tackle Perry Simmons will be sidelined for the Blue Devils’ bowl game after suffering a knee injury in last night’s Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game loss to No. 1 Florida State. Simmons suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee and will undergo surgery at a later date.

“Perry is one of the finest individuals I've known in my life,” said Duke head coach David Cutcliffe. “He is a tremendous football player and competitor. Also, he is truly the definition of a student-athlete in every sense. We appreciate Perry's contributions to our program as a player and leader.”

A 6-5, 300-pound native of Raleigh, N.C., Simmons has played in and started 50 consecutive games at right offensive tackle over the past four seasons. A two-time All-ACC selection in 2012 and 2013, Simmons has played over 3,700 snaps in his career.

Simmons has helped pave the way for a Duke offense that averages 31.6 points and 408.1 total yards per game while scoring 25 rushing touchdowns and 23 passing touchdowns. The Blue Devils have given up just 16 sacks in 13 games for the third fewest in the ACC while averaging 173.7 rushing yards per game, which is the most in the Cutcliffe Era.

A two-time Academic All-America pick in each of the past two seasons, Simmons was one of 16 recipients for the National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Award and also received the ACC’s Jim Tatum Award as the league’s top senior football scholar-athlete.

Duke stands at 10-3 on the year and will play in a bowl game for the second consecutive seasons for the first time in school history.